Share “Oklahoma Natural Gas to reduce rebates for...”

Oklahoma Natural Gas to reduce rebates for CNG vehicles

ONG launched the rebate program to help pay for compressed natural gas vehicles last summer. Strong demand has led the company to cut the amounts of the rebates for CNG vehicles, conversions and home-fueling stations.

Oklahoma Natural Gas has slashed the amount of rebates toward compressed natural gas vehicles and conversions after seeing stronger-than-expected demand for the incentives.

The company announced a waiting list for the program in October, just a few months after it went into effect in July.

ONG said Monday it will reduce the rebate for a dedicated natural gas vehicle to $1,000, down from $2,500 in the original program. The rebate for a bi-fueled natural gas vehicle will fall to $500, compared to $1,500. Residential CNG fueling systems will have a $1,000 rebate, down from $2,500.

The reduced rebates take effect Nov. 26.

Money for the rebates comes from a 25-cent per gasoline gallon equivalent surcharge on compressed natural gas bought from ONG's public fueling stations. The Corporation Commission approved the surcharge in June.

“While we would like to continue rebates at the current levels, our funding source — a 25-cent surcharge based on the amount of CNG sold to the public at company facilities — simply can't support the rebates at those levels,” said Greg Phillips, president of ONG, in a statement. “As a result, we are reducing the amounts of the rebates due to this exceptionally strong demand.”

MORE FROM NEWSOK

by Paul Monies

Energy Reporter

Paul Monies is an energy reporter for The Oklahoman. He has worked at newspapers in Texas and Missouri and most recently was a data journalist for USA Today in the Washington D.C. area. Monies also spent nine years as a business reporter and...